Brian Polenik

A dependable individual with experience overseeing operations and processes within multiple industries. Demonstrates superior decision-making and critical thinking skills in fast paced, federally regulated establishments. Implements effective SSOP's, SOP's, along with plant procedures.

Trains and coaches new and existing programs to ensure compliance and to obtain desired results. A proven leader, trainer, and mentor who motivates teams to meet organizational goals and to facilitate effective interdepartmental communication.

QA Manager - Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed - Becker MN

(2025-04)

• Responsible for the quality and food safety of product produced in Renegade room Becker MN
• Manage complaints for Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed brand name (co-packed in multiple locations)
• Responsible for SQF certification, USDA, regulatory and customer contacts

QA Manager - Actus Nutrition (Milk Specialties Global) - Clara City MN

(2024-01 - 2025-04)

• Responsible for the quality and food safety operations for two (2) facilities that produced and packaged high protein cereals and puffs for Magic Spoon, Puffworks, ODO, etc.
• Manage organic, Kosher, gluten free programs, and audits
• Manage the department with three (3) supervisors and six technicians
• Point for customer audits, regulatory, SQF, and general visitor audits / tours
• Passed unannounced SQF / Costco audit in the first year of learning the plant process / paperwork
• Assist corporate sales in gaining the business of Seven Sundays, Happy Baby, Kabrita, and Quest which brought in over 1 million pounds to the facility
• Worked with operations to increase plant output to over 4.5 million pounds in 2024 from 2 million in 2023 by streamlining programs such as sanitation (chemicals and clean-up), process (equipment), people (hiring and training)
• Projected 6.5 million pounds in 2025

QA Manager - Valley Proteins, Inc. (Darling Ingredients Inc.) - Linkwood MD

(2019-07 - 2023-12)

• Responsible for the quality and food safety standards of the rendered pet food ingredient leaving the facility
• Lab analysis of meals and fat (NIR, FFA, pV., etc.)
• Manage plant's documents (FSMA, AFSP, FSC36, policy manuals, training, complaints, mock trace, sanitation, pest control, etc.)
• Complaint resolution
• Contact for customers (questions, concerns, informational packets)
• Prepared and supported multiple Valley Proteins plants for SFSF, Export, and customer audits
• Transition Linkwood to Darling policies

FSQA Supervisor - Clemens Food Group - Hatfield, PA

(2018-06 - 2019-07)

• Orchestrated an open forum meeting with USDA Officials (Deputy District Manger & Front-Line Supervisor) along with Plant Management to establish the plant's position on vital events and trending NR's
• Successfully appealed 20% NRs issued
• Mentor and trainer to FSQA Supervisors and provide support throughout the plant
• Responsibilities: schedules, technician training, daily production communication, sanitation, HACCP plans, general floor observations, etc.

QA Supervisor - Hormel Foods - Fremont, NE

(2012-12 - 2018-06)

Two periods: Dec 2012 - June 2018 and February 1997 - Nov 2000

• Designated as the FSMA point person for the facility - designed, trained, and maintained the programs and paperwork for the Rendering Department
• Point of contact for Customer Audits
• Facilitated the promotion of multiple quality technicians to Production Leads
• Supervised Hog Harvest, Fabrication, Sausage, Ham Bone, and various other departments
• Set schedules, revised / reassessed HACCP plans, strengthen USDA relations, work through production concerns

HACCP Specialist - Armour-Eckrich Meats - Omaha, NE

(2008-05 - 2009-05)

• Collaborated with team members to reduce HACCP and SSOP documentation errors by 15%. Improvements to the process flow and form set-up were key contributors
• Prepared plant from ground up for SQF desk and plant audit certification
• Point person for USDA contact and meetings, NR's, EIAO Lm audit, HACCP reassessments, and decreased NRs by 5%

Bachelor of Science - Biology - University Wisconsin-La Crosse (1995-12)